U.S. patent application number 11/769731 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for portable communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode and implementing method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to FANG-HUA LIU, SHIH-FANG WONG.
Application Number | 20080001740 11/769731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875987 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080001740 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIU; FANG-HUA ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
PORTABLE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS WITH AN ANTI-THEFT MODE AND
IMPLEMENTING METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
A communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode is provided. A
preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes an input unit and a
CPU. The input unit is for generating an operational signal in
response to an operational input. The CPU is for receiving an
anti-theft mode signal and setting the communication apparatus in
an anti-theft mode, and disabling communication functions of the
communication apparatus when the operational signal received from
the input unit is a communication operational signal and the
communication apparatus is in the anti-theft mode.
Inventors: |
LIU; FANG-HUA; (Shenzhen,
CN) ; WONG; SHIH-FANG; (Tu-Cheng, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. CHENG-JU CHIANG JEFFREY T. KNAPP
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
38875987 |
Appl. No.: |
11/769731 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/568.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 13/1409 20130101;
G08B 21/0213 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/568.1 |
International
Class: |
G08B 13/14 20060101
G08B013/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 28, 2006 |
CN |
200610061363.1 |
Claims
1. A communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode, comprising:
an input unit for generating an operational signal in response to
an operational input; a CPU for receiving an anti-theft mode signal
and setting the communication apparatus in an anti-theft mode, and
disabling communication functions of the communication apparatus
when the operational signal received from the input unit is a
communication operational signal and the communication apparatus is
in the anti-theft mode.
2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the anti-theft
mode signal is generated from the input unit in response to a lock
operation input.
3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a
first wireless communication unit for receiving the anti-theft mode
signal from a wireless signal transmitting apparatus.
4. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the communication
function comprises a voice communication function and a message
communication function.
5. The apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising a
power control unit and a voice signal receiving unit, wherein the
CPU signals the power control unit to discontinue supplying power
to the voice receiving unit to disable the voice communication
function.
6. The apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising a
voice signal receiving unit, wherein the CPU suspends receiving
voice signal from the voice signal receiving unit, or suspends
sending the voice signals received from the voice receiving unit to
a general communication apparatus to disable the voice
communication functions.
7. The apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising a
temporary data storage that records a file edited by user, wherein
the CPU does not send the text file edited by user and stored in
the temporary data storage to disable the message communication
function.
8. The apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising a data
storage that stores a prerecorded voice file, wherein the CPU
obtains the prerecorded voice file from the data storage and sends
the prerecorded voice file to a general communication apparatus
when the communication operational signal is a voice communication
signal in the anti-theft mode.
9. The apparatus as described in claim 4, further comprising a data
storage that stores a prerecorded message file, wherein the CPU
obtains the prerecorded message file from the data storage and
sends the prerecorded message file to a general communication
apparatus when the communication operational signal is a message
communication signal in the anti-theft mode.
10. An implementing method for a communication apparatus with an
anti-theft mode, comprising: receiving an anti-theft mode signal;
setting the communication apparatus in an anti-theft mode;
receiving an operational signal; and disable communication
functions of the communication apparatus when the operational
signal is a communication operational signal.
11. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising the
step of generating the anti-theft mode signal from the input unit
in response to a lock operation input of a user.
12. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising the
step of receiving the anti-theft mode signal from a wireless signal
sending device.
13. The method as described in claim 10, wherein the disabling step
further comprises the step of signaling a power control unit of the
communication apparatus to discontinue supplying power to the voice
receiving unit to disable the voice communication function.
14. The method as described in claim 10, wherein the disabling step
further comprises the step of obtaining a prerecorded voice file
from a data storage of the communication apparatus and sending the
prerecorded voice file to a general communication apparatus when
the communication operational signal is a voice communication
signal.
15. The method as described in claim 10, wherein the disabling step
further comprises the step of obtaining a prerecorded message file
from a data storage of the communication apparatus and sending the
prerecorded message file to a general communication apparatus when
the communication operational signal is a message communication
signal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a communication apparatus
with an anti-theft mode and an implementing method of the
communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] As portable communication apparatus become smaller and
lighter, it becomes more susceptible to being misplaced and/or
stolen.
[0005] When a portable communication apparatus is stolen and used
maliciously, the extra charges incurred are typically charged to
the owner of the communication apparatus. Accordingly, when the
communication apparatus is stolen, it is desirable that malicious
usage of the communication apparatus are prevented.
[0006] There is an electronic lock that facilitates the locking of
communication apparatus to prevent malicious usage. Before the
communication apparatus can be used, a lock code must be manually
inputted so as to unlock the communication apparatus. However,
locking and unlocking the communication apparatus is very
troublesome. For this reason, many communication apparatus users do
not bother locking them. Therefore, if the communication is stolen,
the malicious use of the communication apparatus cannot be
prevented.
[0007] Therefore, what is still needed is a communication apparatus
with an anti-theft mode and when the communication apparatus in the
anti-theft mode, to prevent malicious use of communication
apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode is
provided. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes an input
unit and a CPU. The input unit is for generating an operational
signal in response to an operational input. The CPU is for
receiving an anti-theft mode signal and setting the communication
apparatus in an anti-theft mode, and disabling communication
functions of the communication apparatus when the operational
signal received from the input unit is a communication operational
signal and the communication apparatus is in the anti-theft
mode.
[0009] An implementing method for a communication apparatus with an
anti-theft mode is provided. The implementing method includes the
step of: receiving an anti-theft mode signal; setting the
communication apparatus in an anti-theft mode; receiving an
operational signal; and disable communication functions of the
communication apparatus when the operational signal is a
communication operational signal.
[0010] Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with
reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exemplary hardware infrastructure diagram of a
portable communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an implementing method of the
portable electronic apparatus with an anti-theft mode;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of procedure A of FIG. 2 when an
operational signal is a voice communication signal;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of procedure B of FIG. 2 when an
operation signal is a message communication signal; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of procedure C of FIG. 2 when an
operation signal is a general operation signal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
portable communication apparatus (hereinafter, "the apparatus") has
a general mode and an anti-theft mode. The general mode and the
anti-theft mode can be switched by user's operation. In the general
mode, all functions of the apparatus are in a normal state. In the
anti-theft mode, voice and message communication functions of the
apparatus are in an anti-theft state, while the other functions are
still in the normal state. A detailed implementing method of the
preferred embodiment is described herein.
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exemplary hardware infrastructure diagram of
the apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The apparatus 1 includes an input unit 101, a
first wireless communication unit 102, a first antenna 103, a CPU
104, a power source 105, a power control unit 106, a voice signal
receiving unit 107, a second wireless communication unit 108, a
second antenna 109, a data storage 110, and a temporary data
storage 111.
[0018] The apparatus 1 further defines a state value that indicates
a current mode of the apparatus. For example, when the state value
is "0", it indicates the current mode of the apparatus 1 is the
general mode, when the state value is "1", it indicates the current
mode of the apparatus 1 is the anti-theft mode.
[0019] The antenna 103 is provided for receiving an anti-theft mode
signal transmitted from a wireless signal transmitting apparatus 2.
The anti-theft mode signal is generated by the wireless signal
transmitting apparatus 2 for response to a lock operation input of
the user. When the anti-theft mode signal is received, the antenna
103 transmits the anti-theft mode signal to the CPU 104 through the
first wireless communication unit 102. When the CPU 104 receives
the anti-theft mode signal, the CPU 104 changes the state value
from "0" to "1" and changes the mode of the apparatus 1 from the
general mode to the anti-theft mode. In the anti-theft mode, the
CPU 104 disables the voice and message communication functions. The
CPU 104 signals the power control unit 106 to discontinue supplying
power from the power source 105 to the voice receiving unit 107,
suspends receiving voice signal from the voice signal receiving
unit 107, or suspends sending the voice signals received from the
voice receiving unit 107 to the general communication apparatus 4
to disable the voice communication function. To disable the message
communication functions, the CPU 104 does not send the text file
edited by users and stored in the temporary data storage 111.
Furthermore, the anti-theft mode signal can also be generated and
sent to the 104 by the input unit 101 after the lock operation
input.
[0020] Once receiving an unlock signal, the CPU 104 changes the
state value from "1" to "0", and switches the current mode from the
anti-theft mode to the general mode. That is, the CPU 104 enables
the voice and message communication functions to revert to the
activate state.
[0021] In addition, while in the anti-theft mode, when a voice
communication instruction is received from the input unit 101, the
CPU 104 sends a network connection instruction to establish a
connection between the apparatus 1 and the general communication
apparatus 4. Subsequently, the CPU 104 obtains a prerecorded voice
file from the data storage 110 and transmits the prerecorded voice
file to the second wireless communication unit 108, the second
wireless communication unit 108 then sends the prerecorded voice
file to the general communication apparatus 4 through the second
antenna 109 and a communication network 3. The content of the
prerecorded voice file can be "device has been stolen" or other
content that alerts people that the user of the apparatus 1 is not
the original owner of the apparatus 1.
[0022] When receiving a message communication instruction from the
input unit 101, the CPU 104 obtains a prerecord message file from
the data storage 110 instead of a message file stored in the
temporary data storage 111. The prerecord message is then
transmitted to the second wireless communication unit 108. The
second wireless communication unit 108 sends the prerecord message
to the portable communication apparatus 3 through the second
antenna 109 and the communication network 4. The content of the
prerecord message file can be "device has been stolen" or other
content that alerts people that the holder of the apparatus 1 is
not the original owner of the apparatus 1.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an implementing method of the
portable electronic apparatus with an anti-theft mode.
[0024] In step S201, the CPU 104 receives the anti-theft mode
signal which transmitted from the wireless signal sending apparatus
2 or the input unit 101.
[0025] In step S202, the CPU 104 sets the apparatus 1 in the
anti-theft mode according to the anti-theft mode signal.
[0026] In step S203, the CPU 104 receives the operational signal
from the input unit 101.
[0027] In step S204, the CPU 104 determines the operational signal.
If the operational signal is the voice operational signal, the
procedure goes to procedure A. If the operation signal is the
message operational signal, the procedure goes to procedure B. If
the operation signal is the general operation signal, the procedure
goes to procedure C.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the procedure A when the operation
signal is the voice communication signal.
[0029] In step S301, the CPU 104 sends the network connection
instruction to establish a connection between the apparatus 1 and
the general communication apparatus 4.
[0030] In step S302, the CPU 104 disables the voice communication
function of the apparatus 1.
[0031] In step S303, the CPU 104 obtains the prerecorded voice file
from the data storage 110 and then sends the prerecorded voice file
to the general communication apparatus 4.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the procedure B when the operation
signal is the message communication signal.
[0033] In step S401, the CPU 104 disables the message communication
function.
[0034] In step S402, the CPU 104 obtains a prerecorded message file
from the data storage 110.
[0035] In step S403, the CPU 104 sends the prerecorded message file
to general communication apparatus 4.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the procedure C when the operation
signal is the general operation signal.
[0037] In step S501, the CPU 104 implements the general
instruction.
[0038] Although the present invention has been specifically
described on the basis of a preferred embodiment, the invention is
not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or
modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the claims and
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *